Derek Berg and Andrew Berg started Army’s first game-winning handshake line of the 2024 season.
Andrew closed out the Black Knights’ victory over Monmouth with two scoreless innings and Derek calling the signs behind the dish.
This spring was the first full season that the Berg brothers worked together as pitcher and catcher.
”This year has been really fun getting to see him come out in some big situations,” Derek Berg said.
Together, the Bergs have helped Army to its sixth straight Patriot League title and a date with No. 7 seed Georgia in the Athens Regional today. The brothers’ versatility and ability to excel in multiple roles has lifted the Black Knights.
Derek, a senior and MLB Draft prospect, has authored crowning season. The Patriot League first-team catcher has hit 15 home runs (giving him 29 for his career) and batted .301 while starting 34 games behind the plate, eight games at first base and six games at second base. Berg is four hits shy of 200 for his career.
Andrew has developed into one of Army’s most reliable arms in his sophomore season. His 2.01 ERA tops all Black Knight pitchers. He’s won five games (5-2 record), made two starts and recorded two saves. Berg has elevated from 1 1/3 innings his freshman year to 49 1/3 innings this season.
”There’s nothing better than the connections that we (he and Derek) on the field when he is at first base or catching,” Andrew said. “Just having that connection, he knows how to calm me down. He knows how to get me through an at-bat or a game. Just that level of connection has really helped me get to where I’m at today.”
Back in Conroe, Texas, Andrew was 5 years old when he started playing with Derek’s 7-year-old team. Now, the brothers have at least one more baseball weekend together at college’s highest level.
Derek’s packet to play professional baseball has been approved ahead of next month’s MLB draft. He and Army’s senior class accomplished one of their goals – to leave West Point with four Patriot League championship rings. Hopefully, there will be another winning handshake line in the brothers’ future.
”It’s (the regional) just another step in the road whether it’s playing baseball together or going through life,” Derek said. “He’s (Andrew) still got two more years here and I’m sure that he will have a lot of success with the team when our class is gone.
”We (the seniors) have another weekend to go down to Georgia and make some noise before we hang up the cleats.”
